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March 1, 2010

ETF, WTF?

By the web

People are speaking out against mobile phone companies that impose penalties of up to $350 if we cancel our plans. We think these fees are outrageous, and they need to be stopped.

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We just sent this e-mail to 30,000 activists who are working to make the mobile Internet as free and open as the wired Internet. Their response has been so amazing, we wanted to give you a chance to become involved, too. People are speaking out against mobile phone companies that impose penalties of up to $350 if we cancel our plans. We think these fees are outrageous, and they need to be stopped.

Please sign this letter and forward this e-mail to everyone you know who's fed up with outrageous fees from cell phone carriers.

Thanks -- Josh Levy



Tell Washington to End Massive Mobile Fees

Dear Joan,

Mobile phone bills are too high. Hidden fees are everywhere. Service quality is mediocre at best. And yet, carriers still force us to pay outrageous penalties -- up to $350 -- if we cancel our phone service or switch carriers.

There's one question on everyone's mind: WTF?

The FCC has been asking that question (in so many words) too. Earlier this week, the agency sent letters to every major wireless carrier in the country, asking them to justify trapping consumers in contracts with such high penalties.

The carriers aren't willing to tell the FCC what these penalties -- known as early termination fees (ETFs) -- are for. But we can't simply let the wireless industry hold us hostage with massive fees.

Tell Washington: Protect Consumers from Outrageous Fees

The carriers will tell you that they can play fair without the FCC's and Congress' oversight. But that's just not true. After Washington threatened to investigate its activity, Verizon began pro-rating its ETF (so you would owe less for every month of your contract).

Google and T-Mobile also lowered the combined ETF on the Google phone from a whopping $550 to $350 -- still obscene -- after a FCC letter of inquiry about their behavior.

The FCC can help consumers. But letters aren't enough. It's up to us to free our phones.

Urge the FCC to End Unreasonable Penalties

This is all about choice. We need to be able to choose our devices, our apps and our services.

Please contact the FCC, and tell them to put an end to these outrageous fees.

Thanks,


Josh Levy

Online Campaign Manager

Free Press Action Fund

P.S. Anyone with a cell phone knows that the wireless industry has been gouging consumers for too long. Please forward this e-mail to your friends and family and share it on Facebook and Twitter. Tell everyone you know to say WTF to outrageous ETFs.

Want to learn more? Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

If you haven't already, you can also join our E-Activist list.



Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Learn more at www.freepress.net
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Josh Levy, FreePress.net
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Authors Bio:
anonymously sourced from either the web or a forwarded email.

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